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R.I. Web site to guide consumers in buying locally

5:39 PM Tue, Aug 11, 2009 | Permalink
By News staff

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By Barbara Polichetti
Journal staff writer

Do you like to spend your money supporting the local economy?

You buy locally-grown produce and Little Rhody dairy products, and you frequent mom-and-pop shops whenever you can find them.

Well, buying local is about to get easier.

On Thursday, Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts will unveil a Web site for the state's Buy Local RI initiative to provide an Internet presence for the many of the state's small businesses.

Roberts launched the "Buy Local" program late last year as a public-awareness campaign to encourage Rhode islanders to support locally owned, independent businesses.

According to Roberts' spokesman, Michael Tanka, the first step in launching the new Web site -- which will have the Internet address of www.buylocal.ri.org -- will be to get as many local businesses as possible to register for it. Businesses will be able to do that electronically or at the reception that Roberts has invited them to on Thursday.

After that, Tanka said, it will be a matter of doing the behind-the-scenes computer work to give visitors the ability to search the site.

Another goal is to have links that will take viewers to local businesses' individual Web sites, he said.

"Small businesses are the lifeblood of Rhode island economy and the anchors of our communities," said Roberts, who also chairs the Small Business Advocacy Council. "Once the new Buy Local RI Web site registers enough businesses, we will launch Phase Two of the Buy Local RI Web site, which will allow individuals and business to search for local products and services."